chlamydia

Microbiology. any coccoid rickettsia of the genus Chlamydia, parasitic in birds and mammals, including humans, and causing various infections, especially of the eyes, as trachoma, lungs, as psittacosis, and genitourinary tract, as urethritis or chlamydia.

2.

Pathology. Also called lymphogranuloma venereum. a widespread, often asymptomatic sexually transmitted disease caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, a major cause of nongonococcal urethritis in men and pelvic inflammatory disease and ectopic pregnancy in women.

type of genital infection, 1984, from the name of the bacteria that causes it (1945), which is formed from Latinized comb. form of Greek khlamys (genitive khlamydos) "short mantle, military cloak," of unknown origin, + -ia.

chlamydia chla·myd·i·a (klə-mĭd'ē-ə)n.pl.chla·myd·i·ae (-ē-ē') Any of several common, often asymptomatic, sexually transmitted diseases caused by the microorganism Chlamydia trachomatis.

chla·myd'i·aladj.

Chlamydia Chla·myd·i·a (klə-mĭd'ē-ə)n. A genus of coccoid, gram-negative microorganisms that are pathogenic to humans and animals, causing diseases such as conjunctivitis in cattle and sheep, and trachoma, nonspecific urethritis, and proctitis in humans. Also called Bedsonia, Miyagawanella.

(klə-mĭd'ē-ə) Pluralchlamydiae (klə-mĭd'ē-ē')Any of various bacteria of the genus Chlamydia, several species of which cause common infections in humans and animals, including neonatal conjunctivitis, pneumonia, bronchitis, pharyngitis, and sexually transmitted infections of the pelvis and urethra.